Bali not only has beautiful and charming natural scenery, but is also famous for its rich and colorful culture and social customs. The classical dance of the Balinese is elegant and colorful. It has a unique position in the world of dance art and is also a bright and unique piece of Indonesian folk dance. Among them, the lion and sword dance is the most representative.
Bali’s sculptures (wood carvings, stone carvings), paintings and handicrafts are also famous for their exquisite skills and unique style. Exquisite statues and reliefs of wood and stone can be seen everywhere on the island. Therefore, the island is also known as the "Island of Art". Mas is the island's famous center for wood carving. Balinese paintings are unique. Most of them are painted on burlap or white canvas with glue and mineral pigments. The themes are based on pastoral scenery and people's living customs, with strong local color. Therefore, Bali is known as the "Island of Poetry" and "Greece of the East". Chomu, located in the center of the island, is a painting center, and the museum preserves many historical relics and large paintings.
Near Niaomu, there is a square thousand-year-old cave called the Elephant Cave. The cave is only two to three meters deep and has lifelike statues of gods carved inside. There are four famous stone statues on Gawei Mountain, and there are five shrines standing in front of the big stone statues; halfway up the mountain, there is the Presidential Palace of Pasirang.
A Buddha statue in the Elephant Cave Temple in Bali.
Balinese residents hold nearly 200 religious festivals every year, and every festival is filled with singing and dancing. Due to the various customs in Bali, the scenery is very beautiful. Therefore, it also enjoys many nicknames, such as "Island of Gods", "Island of Devil", "Romans Island", "Island of Beauty", "Island of Paradise", "Island of Magic", etc. In the natural sciences, in 1869 the biologist Wallace also discovered that Bali is the "terminus" of the Asian continent. Typical Asian animals are distributed here, and to the east is only Lombok, which is separated by a strait with a width of less than 40 kilometers. , the animal belongs to Oceania species. Therefore, Bali is a famous tourist destination.
Due to the profound religious atmosphere, almost all culture in Bali is related to religion from form to content. I will select a representative one for an introduction.
Religion: There are many ways to understand religion. The most intuitive is to visit temples. There are many temples on Bali, and it is said that there are more than 10,000 temples. Many people who go to Bali to see temples go to the Tanah Lot Temple (TANAHOT). Legend has it that Bali was caused by a volcanic eruption (there are three active volcanoes on the island, Batur, Kintamani, and Agung) in order to calm down the divine turtle. , one of the seven temples built, is famous for its separation and integration with the land during the ebb and flow of the tide. In fact, the Shengquan Temple has a longer history, more than 700 years, and Sukarno's palace was built on the hill next to it. In addition, the Bugisa Temple located next to Mount Agung (the holy mountain of Hinduism in Bali and the center of the universe) is known as the mother of temples and is the representative of temples on Bali.
Music: Bamboo percussion can be heard every day in Bali hotels, but this is not complete Balinese music. Gamelan music combines brass music, drum music, bowed string music, and it is said that there is also ancient Chinese music!
Shadow puppets: Shadow puppets are the most representative form of entertainment. The story themes are taken from the two major Hindu epics, mostly Ramayana. You can also gain a deeper understanding of its religious stories by watching it.
Dance: Represented by Legon and Balong, somewhat similar to the distinction between our Yangchun Baixue and Lower Riba people, they still use "Ramayana" (Ramayana) as the performance theme, and the dance movements are very monotonous. Mainly expressed through hands and eyes.
Carving: Stone carvings are mainly concentrated in Batubulan (BATUBULAN), wood carvings are in MAS, and silverware is in CELU. Among them, wood carvings are the most famous, mainly because of the precious village quality ( Mostly made of sandalwood, ebony, and teak) the shapes are mostly mythical figures.
Paintings: Mainly in Ubud, the ARMA Art Museum is beautiful and worth a visit, and the Nica Art Museum has many treasures in its collection. The painting art of Bali has a profound influence on the development of world painting art. For example, the impressionist master Gauguin and the Belgian Mayur came to the island in 1932, stayed and married a local. His Balinese His works have aroused great repercussions in the West.
Handmade: Weaving and batik are very distinctive among Bali’s handicrafts. Many people may think that there are many batiks in China, which is not surprising, but Bali’s “Rinsinko” is the only one in the world. The warp and weft are dyed and then weaved. A piece of clothing takes several years, but it is rarely seen. It is only worn by people of high status during major sacrifices.
There is the famous Monkey Temple in Shengyi in the middle of the island, where monkeys gather in groups. To the north is the beautiful Biduku Lake. The famous Kyoto Mani has a cool climate, and from here you can see the Batu volcano with its summit hazy with smoke all year round. Batu Lake at the foot of Batu Mountain is also famous for its beautiful scenery. The Gerung Palace in the southeast of the island is the seat of the famous ancient Balinese court. The palace is majestic, surrounded by moats, and the roof is covered with portraits of prisoners during their executions. In Tanah Lok on the southwest coast of the island, there is a temple built on the high ground on the shore. Due to long-term wave erosion, this place is 25 meters away from the main island, forming an isolated island. Whenever the tide rises, the universe seems to sink and float in the waves, just like in the water. palace.
Balinese people are philosophers of life. They work seriously when they work, eat with joy when they eat, sleep peacefully when they sleep, live in peace with the gods of all things, and live every minute and second without any distractions. Natural carefree life is a happy life. The cliché "money is not everything" is revealed to be just a duplicitous idiom. Measuring everything with the value of money is the eternal standard of mankind.
Banjar Autonomous Peaceful Era
The Balinese not only have their own understanding of religion, but also have a different version of life management that is different from the official version.
Although the government has clearly defined the administrative system for counties, cities and villages, it is the "Banjar" that really drives the operation. "Banjar" is a small unit at a lower level than a "village". It is composed of hundreds of households. It is an autonomous organization in Bali and is not listed in the files of government agencies. From the weddings and funerals of each household to the rewards and punishments of personal actions , solutions are decided through monthly meetings. The strict autonomous organization makes every household communicate with each other, and chickens and dogs hear each other, forming a strong moral binding force. Therefore, although Bali is as beautiful as a paradise, it is impossible for you to live a solitary hermit life.
Nobles and common people are treated as equals
The class system originating from religion exists in Bali. However, just like the Balinese people’s religious attitude, the Balinese people who are harmonious in everything regard The class system is not as strict and serious as that of Indians. In Bali, the four classes are not only equal, but the wording is not limited to high-class or low-class language. With the penetration of economic power, in the past, it was clearly listed in The class title on the business card has gradually been replaced by proud academic experience. However, it is basic common sense to follow the Romans when entering the country. These four classes must be kept in mind to avoid accidentally violating taboos and being unable to defend themselves during special occasions such as sacrifices that focus on status.
Class name I Male title I Female title
Brahmana priest I da Bagus I da Ayu
Ksatriya noble I Cokorda I da Cokorda
Waisya craftsman and businessman I Dewa I Desah
Sudra (Jaba commoner) I None I None
The color of the vicissitudes of life does not change
Balinese people do not care about their family origins The simple and easy-going attitude towards foreign visitors regardless of their origin makes Bali a resting place where people trust each other and rest their souls. What is valuable is that Bali receives millions of visitors a year, but it still does not change its color. The sea is still a sea, and the mulberry fields are still mulberry fields.
The rules of worshiping in the morning and evening and the habit of bathing have not changed for hundreds of years. Although tourists gather in groups with V8s to watch, the Balinese people still turn a blind eye and live their lives, and the terraces you have seen are still waiting in the same place today. When you return, only the rice varieties will change. More than 90% of Bali's agricultural area has been replanted with new varieties. Rapid growth and strong disease resistance are the new varieties' ability to conquer Bali. However, the excessive use of pesticides is the price paid by the Balinese people. The resulting changed ecology has led to an increase in the number of frogs and eels. The sound has dropped sharply, and the crowing of frogs is the main theme of the Balinese serenade. Will this familiar movement change its tune one day? The Balinese have begun to think deeply about this issue.
Work hard and focus on having fun
Live a carefree life is the attitude of the Balinese people, but this does not mean slacking off. In fact, when genius is revealed, Balinese men will go to the fields and work hard. , the women were cleaning, preparing meals and taking care of the livestock. When the sun rose and the earth became hot, the men stopped their work and returned home to take care of their beloved fighting cocks. At this time, the sleepy tourists had just gone out for activities. Balinese men holding fighting cocks and chatting all over the street decided that they were a group of lazy people who did not do anything to produce. Over time, this unfair stereotype became a negative impression of Balinese men around the world, as if the pleasing terraced fields were They seem to grow out of each other.
Actually, Balinese men are quite honest and honest. After taking care of the work that needs to be done, they concentrate on guarding their pet fighting cocks. Their expectations for cockfighting are all pinned on the sacrificial ceremony, which is a recognized occasion for betting on fighting skills. The fighting cocks are put on the stage with sharp knives tied to their feet. After a burst of dust and chicken feathers, the winner is decided. The winner collects the stake and the dead chicken. The stake goes into his pocket and the dead chicken is on the table.
Cremation Ceremony in Bali
Cremation Ceremony in Bali: The cow-shaped coffin represents status and status, and can only be enjoyed by nobles and monks.
The flames turned the sacrifices and coffins into ashes, and people wished that the soul of the deceased would ascend at this moment.
Influenced by religious beliefs, Balinese people have their own understanding of death, and their custom is to celebrate death. After the death of Balinese people, it is customary to carry out cremation. The soul of the deceased who has not been cremated is filthy and will bring disaster to people. If the deceased is not cremated within a certain period of time, the soul of the deceased will not be able to ascend to heaven and become a ghost that wanders the world all night long. Therefore, the cremation ceremony here is very grand and is also one of the wonders of Bali. Cremation is held on the 42nd day after death because the Balinese believe that it takes 42 days for the soul to leave the body after death. Before cremation, the body must be processed. First, soak the body in liquids made from various spices, then wrap it with cloth and place it in a bamboo basket. On the day before cremation, the relatives of the deceased wear the most gorgeous costumes. , men also wear swords and gather together for a parade. In the evening, a grand entertainment party is held, puppet shows are performed, and various joyful dances are performed. People sing and dance to wait for the next day.
On the day of the cremation, with the accompaniment of music, nearby men rushed to carry the body. Each of the women brought a bottle of holy water from a nearby temple, and a group of women brought a bottle of holy water to the deceased. Live chicks, led by spirits, are placed in front of the funeral procession. After the priest finished praying, he distributed bows and arrows, and the funeral procession set off. The priest held a red miter in his hand and guided in front of the corpse. The procession must take a winding route in order to avoid evil spirits and make the soul of the deceased lose its direction and find no way to return. road. After entering the crematorium, the deceased's close relatives cut the shroud. The priest climbed onto the platform of the bamboo tower, read prayers loudly, and sprinkled many ancient coins on it as a ransom to pay the God of Death. The women sprinkled the holy water they brought with them. On the corpse, smash the bottle of holy water to pieces. Then, the body was moved into the animal-shaped wooden coffin, and when night fell, it was set on fire. Under the light of the fire, the celebration ceremony began, the band played music, and the audience began to revel. One of the main activities is a tug-of-war, in which the two sides compete for the coffin containing the corpse, one side representing the angels, the other side the demons, and the two sides compete for the soul of the deceased. This is repeated many times, and the angels always win in the end. There was booze and singing throughout the event. The family members of the deceased were not sad throughout the funeral. The Balinese believe that excessive grief will prevent the soul of the deceased from ascending to heaven. The corpse gradually turned into ashes, and the watching crowd gradually dispersed. Relatives collected the ashes and put them in coconut shells. With the priest's prayers, the ashes are thrown into the sea. The entire funeral came to an end.
The cost of a grand cremation ceremony is very expensive, sometimes reaching tens of thousands or even millions of yuan. When the king of Jianyar District passed away 12 years ago, the funeral cost as much as 5 million US dollars. Large-scale cremations often involve thousands of people carrying heavy bamboo towers and coffins. The height of the bamboo tower depends on the identity of the deceased. Some are more than 20 meters high, with eleven or two levels, while some are as low as three or four levels.
The coffins are in the shape of animals. The coffins of monks and rich people are carved in the shape of a cow, the coffins of warriors are carved in the shape of flying lions, and the coffins of ordinary people are carved in the shape of half elephant and half fish. The size of the tower-shaped bamboo frame and the grandness of the ceremony all depend on the identity, status and financial resources of the mourning guests. However, many people cannot afford the high cost of funerals. Therefore, local people with financial constraints bury their deceased family members first, and then dig out the bodies and hold cremations when they have enough money and a good time comes. This waiting period may be two to three years or more than ten years.
In Bali, every ten years or so, a large-scale collective cremation will be held, with everyone sharing the cost. At this time, the Balinese clean all the graves on the island and cremate all the corpses and skeletons so that the restless souls can rest in peace.
Balinese Language
Bahasa Indonesia is the official language of Indonesia and Bali, while Bahasa Bali is the dialect of the local people. English is also widely used, especially in busy tourist areas, where English is the most commonly used language. In addition, Dutch, German, French, Japanese and Chinese are also used in some places. Especially in recent years, the number of Taiwanese tourists visiting Bali has increased rapidly, and as a result, there are many businesses with fast thinking. Vendors in restaurants or tourist areas have also begun to learn Mandarin and Ho-Chan, which we are familiar with. Because Indonesia has many old overseas Chinese who immigrated from Ho-Chan in the early days, the Ho-Chan they speak is similar to what we know. There is always a slight gap in the Mandarin spoken, but communication is absolutely no problem. Often in the tourist area, you will hear the vendors saying: "Yuanbu Yiwan...Bianyila (all 10,000)!" "How much?", which makes people feel more friendly and stop in their tracks. Talk to it... However, when you stop, it actually means that a large group of vendors are about to come around and "trade" with you! Haha... If you want to escape at this time, you have to use some methods.